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I was mugged, should be tested?

Should I consider test if I were mugged by few guys and I get injury? My hand was covered with blood, I didn't see any blood from attacker, but due to fact that my hand was bleeding, I did not recognise if whole this blood was mine or could be mixed with someone else blood.

Should I be tested if I did not saw any large amount of others blood?

Answer:

Hello,

Thank you for your inquiry. From what we gather from the question, you were asking about whether you should be tested for HIV after coming in contact with blood on an open wound. From the information given, this scenario is determined to be a low risk activity (Evidence of transmission occurs through these activities when certain conditions are met). Fighting is considered to be a low risk activity as there is a potential for HIV transmission because it involves an exchange of body fluids, in this case, blood.

For a risk to exist, specific HIV positive fluids (semen, pre-cum, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, blood) must come into direct contact with the blood stream of an HIV negative person. For example, through open cuts/sores, mouth and throat. However, consider the following quote from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "HIV does not survive long outside the human body (such as on surfaces) and it cannot reproduce outside a human host." [1] When the virus is exposed to oxygen, it is rendered inactive.

AIDS Vancouver plays a special role in providing quality health care to people affected by HIV/AIDS living in the Lower Mainland. It is clearly more than just a community health care organization. It is an organization whose presence and continued strength is essential to the quality for life of this community and of each individual and family who draws on its services. Our Agency is a vital community asset which everyone affected by HIV/AIDS can share, and in which we all have a stake.